Family Occasions, Speaking Heart to Heart

September 10, 2024 Hi!  How is each and every one? Last Sunday, September 8, was Mama Mary’s birthday.  How did you celebrate her birthday?  A group of friends went on an excursion to Liliw, Laguna, another group went for a pilgrimage to Our Lady in a newly constructed Church along Calamba, Quezon City, another one went to a farm in Morong, Rizal and after lunch prayed with the staff the Rosary to Our Lady and another group of young students prepared food boxes for the poor families in Sampaloc, Manila area. Doubtless, Our Lady must be happy and smiling at these daughters of hers who in any way they can show her the love and affection that is due her.  I found another article on the virtue of justice in opusdei.org.  It is a question and answer format that is very enlightening; it certainly answers questions in our mind and gives us suggestions on how to practice the virtue in carrying out our daily life’s duties and activities especially in our daily work and relationships. Let

September 3, 2024         Hi!  How is each and every one?  Yesterday, I discovered the following in one of my readings and considerations.  What are the signs that help us discern that God is present. First, we have to remember that God does not contradict himself; he will not ask us for anything that goes against Jesus’ teaching, as found in Holy Scripture and taught by the Church. Nor will he suggest something opposed to our vocation. Secondly, we have to consider what the inspirations imply. A tree is known by its fruits (cf.  Mt  7:16-20); and as Saint Paul said,  the fruit of the spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, self-control  ( Gal  5:22-23).   The spiritual tradition of the Church has been constant in its teaching that “the Spirit of God unfailingly produces peace in our souls, and the devil unfailingly produces agitation.”   (Jacques Philippe,  In the School of the Holy Spirit , Scepter, New York, 2007, p. 52).  In the co